Bennett: 'We Can't Rely on Anyone Else at Moment of Truth'

Naftali Bennett said that his party would not allow the government to make radical concessions to the PA, despite US pressure

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David Lev, 03/03/14 12:02

Economy and Trade Minister Naftali Bennett

Flash 90

In an interview Monday, Economics Minister Naftali Bennett stated that his Jewish Home party would not allow the government to make radical concessions to the Palestinian Authority, even under heavy pressure from the U.S. “I will not accept a situation where Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu signs on a document to return Israel to the 1948 armistice lines,” Bennett said.

Hinting at the situation in Ukraine, where the Russians have, despite American protests, sent troops to Crimea, Bennett said that Israel dared not trust anyone else for its defense. “We must not do anything that will harm our security,” he said. “If we are not for ourselves, no one will be for us,” he said, paraphrasing the famous quote attributed to the Jewish sage Hillel. “At the moment of truth no one will stand up for us. At the end of the day all we have is the IDF.”

Although the U.S. is a good friend, “we do not have to automatically accept everything they push. It is not always the best thing for us. The job of the government of Israel is to look out for the interests of Israel.”

Bennett said that his Jewish Home party would stand in the way of any major concessions, but “I don't believe Netanyahu will sign on to such concessions. But if it does happen we will not be a part of it,” he added.